Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS's teacher education program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—it sits at the 40th percentile among Colorado programs, earning essentially the same as the state median ($40,198 versus $40,531). Graduates here make slightly less than peers at Metropolitan State or University of Northern Colorado, though the differences are marginal enough that location preferences and teaching opportunities matter more than these small salary variations.

The debt picture offers a modest advantage: at $25,040, graduates here carry about $1,400 less than the typical Colorado teacher education graduate. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, most graduates should be able to manage their loans on a teacher's salary, though the first few years will require careful budgeting. The real constraint isn't the debt load—it's the $40,198 starting salary itself, which is typical for Colorado teachers but demands financial discipline regardless of where you earn your degree.

For families considering this program, the question isn't whether UCCS offers exceptional value—it doesn't stand out among Colorado's teacher prep options. Instead, ask whether teaching in Colorado Springs specifically makes sense for your child. If they're committed to education and prefer UCCS's location or campus environment, the financials here won't make or break that decision. The program delivers what you'd expect: reasonable preparation at a reasonable cost, with earning potential determined more by where they teach than where they trained.